Scan barcode
oceanwriter's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I have been loving multigenerational fiction books over the past couple of years. It never occurred to me to look into multigenerational nonfiction. Stories like this are haunting when shown in fiction and the impact hits even more in a memoir.
Mimi Kwa recounts her family’s history from the early days of World War II through the present day. Given the lineage begins before her birth, some sections are more vivid than others. The book covers themes such as mental illness, familial struggles, loss, and other traumas.
I found the book interesting yet somewhat difficult to follow. The time jumps were oddly placed and in general I struggled to follow along with it. The writing was strong, although, it read more like fiction than nonfiction which is something I personally don’t enjoy in nonfiction. Still, I learned a lot along the way which is the most important factor.
A huge thanks to Harper360 for sending me a free ARC of the book to read and review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Moderate: Vomit, Rape, Sexual assault, and Blood
frizzbee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Racial slurs
Moderate: Rape
theres_claire's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
thissimoneb's review against another edition
5.0
This book is epic. A memoir that spans generations, offering insights into history, culture and family dynamics. I imagine this story was incredibly difficult to write, but it's written with grace and provides a captivating read. Highly recommend!
hllew's review against another edition
2.0
Like two different books. Interesting history / story in first part. Annoying family members in second. Wouldn’t recommend